HIGH SCHOOL GOLF : Riley Wins 2nd Title in 3 Years

Patrick Henry senior Chris Riley looked over the practice greens at Singing Hills on Wednesday and smiled.

“This is home,” he said. “I come here almost every day.”

And he wins there every other year.

He did so again by completing both the Oak Glen and Willow Glen courses with a two-under 141 to claim his second San Diego Section championship in three years.

Like a proud homeowner who just signed off the mortgage, Riley then sat back and reminisced.

He talked about the 20-foot putt he had to sink on the 18th green two years ago to clinch his first section title. He recalled bogeying that same hole last year and ceding the championship to Coronado’s Brian Smock. He then teased himself with the thought of how close he came to winning three in a row.

“Three would have been nice,” he said with a smirk, before pushing aside the thought. “I usually just try to forget all the bad things that happen to me.”

On Wednesday it didn’t take much of an effort to do so. The past was obscured by the fact that Riley and teammate Mike Ruiz finished 1-2. Ruiz finished with a two-day total of 146.

He catapulted into second with a one-under 71 on Wednesday. That after making the turn having shot four over on the front nine.

“I was just trying to make the top 10,” Ruiz said. “And I got lucky; other people were shooting bad today.”

So Patrick Henry, which two days earlier won the team title, monopolized the top two spots at the individual tournament.

It was something that Riley and Ruiz imagined in September when Riley transferred from Madison.

“I’ve been trying to get him to transfer here since (freshman year),” Ruiz said.

Graduation will not split the duo. They will attend Nevada Las Vegas on scholarship next year.

“Those two are almost inseparable,” said Patrick Henry Coach Wendell Montague. “They’re the closest of buddies, but the sport hasn’t come between their friendship. They’re always going at each other, but in a friendly, jesting way.”

Three tied for third a stroke behind Ruiz: Charlie Hoffman of Poway, Geoff Goldstein of Bonita Vista and Pat Perez of Torrey Pines.